Raimondo del Balzo Orsini
Encyclopedia
Raimondo Del Balzo Orsini (1361 - 17 January 1406), also known as Raimondello was a nobleman of the Kingdom of Naples
. He was Count of Soleto
(1382), Duke of Benevento
(1385–1401), Prince of Taranto
(1393–1406), Count of Lecce (1401–06), Duke of Bari
, Grand Constable of the Kingdom of Naples
, Gonfalonier
of the Holy Roman Church (1385, confirmed in 1399 together with the principality of Taranto
). He was a member of the influential Orsini family
of Rome
.
, the second son of Nicola Orsini (1331–1399), 3rd Count of Nola
, grand Justiciar and also Grand Chancellor of the Kingdom of Naples, and his second wife Maria Del Balzo (of the counts of Soleto). His grandfather was Roberto Orsini di Nola (1295–1345), 2nd Count of Nola, Grand Justiciar of Naples. His grandmother was the heiress Sveva Del Balzo (born in the first years of 14th century), Countess of Soleto, heiress of des Baux. The family is later known as del Balzo Orsini. His full brother Roberto was 4th Count of Nola, died 1400 and left only illegitimate issue, however natural son inherited County of Nola and became Grand Justiciar. One of his sisters, Sveva, married Francesco Del Balzo, Duke of Andria
. His father and grandfather also held the title of Senator of Rome.
Having been deprived of the Del Balzo heritage, he went to Eastern Europe to fight as a crusader. However, at his return to Italy he reconquered those lands. In 1384, thanks to the help of Louis I of Anjou (whom Raimond has repeatedly supported), he married Mary of Enghien
(1367- 9 May 1446), Countess of Lecce. After the death of Louis, he remained loyal to the Angevines in their struggle against the house of Durazzo. However, in 1398, he sided for Ladislaus of Naples, a member of the Durazzo, obtaining the investiture of the principality of Taranto
, which he conquered in 1399.
Raimondello at that point was the richest Italian feudal
lord of his era. The principality of Taranto included half of the Kingdom of Naples, and the Prince ruled almost independently from the king. Spurred by Pope Innocent VII
, in 1406 Raimondo rebelled against Ladislaus, but died soon afterwards.
Raimondello ordered the construction of the church of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria in Galatina
, a masterpiece of Franciscan art. He is buried in the church, together with his son and heir Giovanni Antonio
.
Kingdom of Naples
The Kingdom of Naples, comprising the southern part of the Italian peninsula, was the remainder of the old Kingdom of Sicily after secession of the island of Sicily as a result of the Sicilian Vespers rebellion of 1282. Known to contemporaries as the Kingdom of Sicily, it is dubbed Kingdom of...
. He was Count of Soleto
Soleto
Soleto is a small Griko-speaking city located in the province of Lecce in Apulia, Italy. The town has a total population of 5,537 and is one of the nine towns of Grecìa Salentina.-History:...
(1382), Duke of Benevento
Benevento
Benevento is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, 50 km northeast of Naples. It is situated on a hill 130 m above sea-level at the confluence of the Calore Irpino and Sabato...
(1385–1401), Prince of Taranto
Principality of Taranto
The Principality of Taranto was a state in southern Italy created in 1088 for Bohemond I, eldest son of Robert Guiscard, as part of the peace between him and his younger brother Roger Borsa after a dispute over the succession to the Duchy of Apulia....
(1393–1406), Count of Lecce (1401–06), Duke of Bari
Bari
Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas...
, Grand Constable of the Kingdom of Naples
Kingdom of Naples
The Kingdom of Naples, comprising the southern part of the Italian peninsula, was the remainder of the old Kingdom of Sicily after secession of the island of Sicily as a result of the Sicilian Vespers rebellion of 1282. Known to contemporaries as the Kingdom of Sicily, it is dubbed Kingdom of...
, Gonfalonier
Gonfalonier of the Church
The Gonfalonier of the Church or Papal Gonfalonier was a military and political office of the Papal States. Originating from the use of the Papal banner during combat, the office later became largely ceremonial and political...
of the Holy Roman Church (1385, confirmed in 1399 together with the principality of Taranto
History of Taranto
The history of Taranto dates back to the 8th century BC when it was founded as a Greek colony, known as Taras.-Foundation and splendour:Taranto was founded in 706 BC by Dorian immigrants as the only Spartan colony, and its origin is peculiar: the founders were Partheniae, sons of unmarried Spartan...
). He was a member of the influential Orsini family
Orsini family
Orsini: the origin of learning.We love Mrs. Orsini forever! ~8F Social Studies 2011The Orsini family is an Italian noble family; it was one of the most influential princely families in medieval Italy and renaissance Rome...
of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
Biography
Raimondello was born at Nocera InferioreNocera Inferiore
Nocera Inferiore, formerly Nocera dei Pagani, is a town and comune in Campania, Italy, in the province of Salerno, at the foot of Monte Albino, 20 km east-south-east of Naples by rail.-History:...
, the second son of Nicola Orsini (1331–1399), 3rd Count of Nola
Nola
Nola is a city and comune of Campania, southern Italy, in the province of Naples, situated in the plain between Mount Vesuvius and the Apennines...
, grand Justiciar and also Grand Chancellor of the Kingdom of Naples, and his second wife Maria Del Balzo (of the counts of Soleto). His grandfather was Roberto Orsini di Nola (1295–1345), 2nd Count of Nola, Grand Justiciar of Naples. His grandmother was the heiress Sveva Del Balzo (born in the first years of 14th century), Countess of Soleto, heiress of des Baux. The family is later known as del Balzo Orsini. His full brother Roberto was 4th Count of Nola, died 1400 and left only illegitimate issue, however natural son inherited County of Nola and became Grand Justiciar. One of his sisters, Sveva, married Francesco Del Balzo, Duke of Andria
Andria
-Places:Italy*Andria, a city in the Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani*Roman Catholic Diocese of Andria, a Roman Catholic diocese...
. His father and grandfather also held the title of Senator of Rome.
Having been deprived of the Del Balzo heritage, he went to Eastern Europe to fight as a crusader. However, at his return to Italy he reconquered those lands. In 1384, thanks to the help of Louis I of Anjou (whom Raimond has repeatedly supported), he married Mary of Enghien
Mary of Enghien
Mary of Enghien, also Maria d'Enghien, was Countess of Lecce from 1384 to 1446, and, by her second marriage, Queen of Naples and titular Queen of Sicily, Jerusalem, and Hungary .- Family :...
(1367- 9 May 1446), Countess of Lecce. After the death of Louis, he remained loyal to the Angevines in their struggle against the house of Durazzo. However, in 1398, he sided for Ladislaus of Naples, a member of the Durazzo, obtaining the investiture of the principality of Taranto
Principality of Taranto
The Principality of Taranto was a state in southern Italy created in 1088 for Bohemond I, eldest son of Robert Guiscard, as part of the peace between him and his younger brother Roger Borsa after a dispute over the succession to the Duchy of Apulia....
, which he conquered in 1399.
Raimondello at that point was the richest Italian feudal
Feudalism
Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.Although derived from the...
lord of his era. The principality of Taranto included half of the Kingdom of Naples, and the Prince ruled almost independently from the king. Spurred by Pope Innocent VII
Pope Innocent VII
Pope Innocent VII , born Cosimo de' Migliorati, was briefly Pope at Rome, from 1404 to his death, during the Western Schism while there was a rival Pope, antipope Benedict XIII , at Avignon.Migliorati was born to a simple family of Sulmona in the Abruzzi...
, in 1406 Raimondo rebelled against Ladislaus, but died soon afterwards.
Raimondello ordered the construction of the church of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria in Galatina
Galatina
Galatina , known before the unification of Italy as San Pietro in Galatina, is a town and comune in the Italian province of Lecce in Apulia.Among the most important cities in Salento, it is situated some 21 km south of the city of Lecce....
, a masterpiece of Franciscan art. He is buried in the church, together with his son and heir Giovanni Antonio
Giovanni Antonio del Balzo Orsini
Giovanni Antonio Del Balzo Orsini was Prince of Taranto, Duke of Bari, Count of Lecce, Acerra, Soleto and Conversano, as well as Count of Matera and of Ugento ....
.
Family
Raimondello and Mary had the following children:- Giovanni AntonioGiovanni Antonio del Balzo OrsiniGiovanni Antonio Del Balzo Orsini was Prince of Taranto, Duke of Bari, Count of Lecce, Acerra, Soleto and Conversano, as well as Count of Matera and of Ugento ....
(1386–1463), Prince of Taranto, Duke of Bari, Count of Lecce, Acerra, Soleto, Conversano, also 1443 count of Matera, 1453 Ugento. - Maria del Balzo Orsini, married Antonio Acquaviva, 2nd Duke of Atri. Apparently childless.
- Caterina del Balzo OrsiniCatherine of TarantoCaterina d'Enghien Orsini was a daughter of Mary of Enghien and Raimondo del Balzo Orsini di Nola.She was married to Tristan, Count of Copertino , a knight of the French family of de Clermont-Lodeve....
, married Bartolomeo (also known as Tristano) di Chiaramonte (de Clermont), Count of Copertino (1380 - c. 1432) - Gabriele (died 1453), Count of Ugento 1434, 1st Duke of Venosa 1441, Count of Lecce, Neapolitan General and Admiral. Married 1431 Giovanna (Ippolita) Caracciolo del Sole dei Duchi di Melfi, daughter of Sergianni Caracciolo dei Duchi di Melfi, Grand Seneschal of Kingdom of Sicily, and his wife Caterina Filangieri.